FAQs

WHY IMP?

We go beyond a typical theater program. Our students receive all the benefits of the average theater program. PLUS:

CONFIDENCE:Improv training gives kids the confidence to turn any situation on or off stage into a gift. They learn in the moment creative problem solving skills to help them in all areas of life.

PROFESSIONALISM:IMP students are continually cast in professional productions and are accepted to the top theater schools in the country. (Emerson College, Boston University, The Walnut Hill School of the Arts and the DePaul Theater School.)

TEAMWORK: Our students work together no matter their age. They are not defined by their age or grade, giving younger and older students a chance to find their creative voice and become part of something greater than themselves.

Come try IMP for the day. On selected Saturdays kids ages 6-16 can come from 1-4 at Alex's Place. Bring a snack and a sense of play.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

After school student will learn to work as a team to create improv. Every student will be given a chance to perform in the end of the session performance. Students who have made a commitment to classes and are seen by the director to have a strong talent and work ethic will be asked to peform in troupes and/or performances outside of class in addition to the end of the session performances.

SUMMER PROGRAM

WHAT DO I BRING?

Full day 9-3 students bring a
snack, lunch and plenty of water. Half day 9-12 students bring a snack and
water.

We perform ACT ONE at 11AM, ACT
TWO at 2PM and BOTH ACTS at 7PM on the final Friday of a two-week session. We
have a beach day share on the final Friday of our one-week sessions.

CAN I JUST COME TO
ONE-WEEK OF A TWO-WEEK SESSION?

Sorry, we have found that actors
that come for only the first week have a hard time working on a show they can
not be in and actors coming for the second week have a hard time catching up on
the work we did the first week. For the good of the actor our answer is
no. But you can come on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday mornings for our
Drop In option.

HOW IS YOUR PROGRAM
DIFFERENT FROM OTHER THEATER CAMPS?

Our focus is on creating artists
through the creation of art. We give our actors choices. They
choose if they want to do music or movement, Shakespeare or Story Theater,
Improv or Musical Theater. We are the only theater camp that allows kids
to choose to do "tech" or work backstage. They also create their own
theater through improv. All our work is focused on helping our actors find their
creative voice.

IF MY ACTOR ONLY
COMES FOR A HALF DAY ARE THEY STILL IN THE SHOW?

Yes, half-day actors are in ACT
One and full day actors are in ACT One and ACT Two.

MY CHILD IS SHY
WILL THIS WORK FOR THEM?

Yes, our program promotes
teamwork so every child can work at its own level. We often find that
"shy" is just a symptom of feeling uncomfortable. We all work
together to make sure everyone feels supported.

We are at two locations for the
summer. Our one week sessions are held at Alex's Place at the YMCA of MV. Our two week sessions are held at the Edgartown School Theater.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR STAFF?

Donna Swift (Director) is the
founder and director of IMP. She holds a theater degree from Emerson
College. After working professionally as an actor, stage manager and
director she began teaching full time eleven years ago. She is certified
to teach theater to grades K-12 in Massachusetts. Donna has co-authored four children's musicals published by Samuel French and Playscripts, Inc. She has directed the award
winning improv troupe the IMPers for eleven years. She has received many accolades
from improv and theater professionals about the high level of training her students
receive in IMP.

Della Burke (Assistant Director) just received her Bachelors at the Univeristy of New Hampshire. A thirteen-year member of the IMP Company, Della is a founding member of the middle school improv troupe IMPact. She has performed at the Chicago, Boston, and Providence Improv Festivals as a member of the IMPers. Now a member of WIMP, Della performs weekly all summer long. She has been an assistant director at IMP All Things Theater for seven years. Della will return to the University of New Hampshire in the fall to pursue a master’s degree in sociology.

Alley Ellis (Assistant Director) graduated from the Walnut Hill School for the Arts this spring. A thirteen-year member of IMP, Alley has performed three times at the Chicago Improv Festival. She has been a member of IMPulse, IMPact and the IMPers before becoming a member of WIMP. At Walnut Hill Alley performed in many productions including; West Side Story, Grease, Italian American Reconciliation, and The All Night Strut. An accomplished dancer, choreographer and director, Alley was given the honor of working as a student choreographer, director and dance captain during her senior year at Walnut Hill. Having worked on the several films, Alley is also proud member of SAG-AFTRA. In the fall she will attend The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University to pursue a BFA in Musical Theater.

Emily Hirschtick (Assistant Director) is a rising sophomore at The New School in New York City studying fine arts, sociology, and theater. Emily has been a part of IMP for twelve years, spending summers at camp while growing up in Boston. Throughout high school she performed with Improv Jones Jr., and in several school productions. She has worked producing light and sound design for FAQ Circus Collective, and is currently working on all things technical with the New York Neo-Futurists. Emily has also taught after-school improv as a part of the "I Had a Dream" theater program in Harlem, New York. In addition to being a member of WIMP, this will be her second year as a member of the IMP All Things Theater staff.

We also have several IMPterns who
help with the day to day running of IMP All Things Theater.